Weekly Update: April 18, 2016 | This Week's News And Notes

The Earthquakes return to their home turf on Sunday, April 24 for a matchup with Sporting Kansas City at Avaya Stadium, presented by the Santa Clara County Household Hazardous Waste Program. The matchup will kickoff at 12:30 p.m. PT and be broadcast to a national audience on ESPN, 1590 KLIV (English) and 1370 KZSF (Spanish).

Last Wednesday, the Earthquakes defeated the New York Red Bulls 2-0 at Avaya Stadium behind goals from Chris Wondolowski and Fatai Alashe to extend their unbeaten streak at Avaya Stadium to nine games dating back to last season. San Jose then traveled to Portland to take on the Timbers on Saturday night, falling 3-1 at Providence Park. Wondolowski scored the Quakes lone goal on a penalty kick, marking his sixth goal in San Jose’s first seven matches.

Last Game vs. Sporting KC Earthquakes 1, Sporting Kansas City 0; Oct. 16, 2015; Avaya Stadium, San Jose, CA
The San Jose Earthquakes earned the crucial three points needed to keep pace in the Western Conference playoff race with a 1-0 victory over Sporting Kansas City in front of a capacity crowd at Avaya Stadium. The Quakes were forced to shuffle the back line with defender Victor Bernardez absent due to yellow card accumulation. Defender Marvell Wynne stepped in to help lead the club to a shutout victory. In the 8th minute, Cordell Cato sent a cross from the right side of the field to midfielder Shea Salinas, who was able to get his head to the ball at the far post. However, Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Tim Melia was able to make a comfortable save. Twelve minutes later, Matias Perez Garcia laid the ball off to Quincy Amarikwa, who was waiting to attack in the middle of the pitch. Quincy dribbled past one defender at the top of the box, putting himself in a one-on-one matchup with the keeper. Amarikwa took a hard shot towards goal, but the attempt sailed just high. The Quakes got on the board two minutes into the second half, when Salinas sent a high cross to the back post for forward Chris Wondolowski. Wondolowski one-timed a cross through the box for Anibal Godoy, who calmly slotted the ball into the back of the net. It marked Anibal Godoy’s second goal of the season, with both coming against Sporting Kansas City. It also marked Salinas’ fifth assist and Wondolowski’s first assist of the year. Wondolowski has now tallied a goal or an assist in seven of the last 10 matches dating back to August 19. With the score, San Jose has not been shut out at Avaya Stadium since August 2, a span of eight consecutive matches. The two clubs continued their physical style of play for the duration of the second half, with both teams creating several scoring chances. However, neither side was able to alter the score line before the final whistle sounded. Quakes keeper David Bingham tallied his 12th shutout of the year, tying Pat Onstad’s club record set in 2005.

History of the Quakes – Sporting KC Rivalry
San Jose and Sporting, then known as the Kansas City Wiz (later Kansas City Wizards), were two of the 10 original clubs during the inaugural 1996 MLS season … The first meeting between the sides was a thriller on April 21, 2006, at Spartan Stadium … With the game tied 2-2 at the end of regulation, the Clash fell in a lengthy shootout by a score of 8-7 … San Jose’s first win against Kansas City came later that season on May 29, 2-1 at Spartan Stadium, thanks to an Eric Wynalda brace … The teams have faced off twice in the postseason … The Quakes won 3-2 at Spartan Stadium on Nov. 15, 2003, on a 117th-minute Landon Donovan goal in sudden-death overtime, during the Western Conference Finals en route to their second MLS Cup title … The two teams met again in the 2004 MLS Cup Playoffs for a two-game Western Conference Semifinals series … The Quakes took a 2-0 decision in their home leg on Oct. 24, but were then eliminated on aggregate following a 3-0 Wizards victory six days later at Arrowhead Stadium, with current Quake Khari Stephenson grabbing the opener and Jack Jewsbury scoring the all-important third goal in second-half stoppage time … Chris Wondolowski tallied the goal that sealed his first Golden Boot award during the 2010 regular-season finale on Oct. 23 at CommunityAmerica Ballpark, his 18th of the year … The Earthquakes played in the second-ever MLS match at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park on June 17, 2011, falling 1-0 with C.J. Sapong re-directing a free kick from Graham Zusi for the only goal of the match in the 31st minute … San Jose fell 2-1 on the road against Sporting KC in their lone meeting in 2012 on May 27 … The Earthquakes took the 2013 edition of this matchup 1-0 on Aug. 18 at Buck Shaw Stadium with Chris Wondolowski scoring his fifth career goal against Sporting KC … In their only meeting of 2014, the Earthquakes fell to Sporting KC 1-0 after Dom Dwyer converted a penalty kick early in the second half … The San Jose Earthquakes routed Sporting Kansas City 5-0 in their first meeting of the 2015 season at Sporting Park in Kansas City on August 19 with a pair of braces by Chris Wondolowski and Cordell Cato, and Anibal Godoy’s first career score … The Quakes shut out Sporting KC again in their last matchup up of 2015, with Godoy tallying his second goal of the season against them to lead San Jose to a 1-0 win at Avaya Stadium.

Earthquakes – Sporting KC Connections
SKC defender Ike Opara played for the Earthquakes from 2010-12, making 35 appearances and recording three goals … Earthquakes goalkeeper David Bingham, defenders Clarence Goodson and Marvell Wynne and forward Chris Wondolowski, along with Sporting KC defender Matt Besler and midfielders Benny Feilhaber and Graham Zusi, have represented the United States MNT … SKC midfielder Jacob Peterson appeared in nine games for the Earthquakes in 2011 after arriving in a trade … Quakes defender Marvell Wynne played with Peterson for the Colorado Rapids during the 2009 season … SKC midfielder Roger Espinoza and Quakes defender Victor Bernardez were both born in Honduras … SKC forward Dom Dywer as well as San Jose defender Jordan Stewart and midfielder Simon Dawkins are all from England … SKC midfielder Bernardo Anor and Quakes defender Shaun Francis both played together with the Columbus Crew (2011-2012) … SKC midfielder Connor Hallisey was born Granite Bay, CA, a suburb of Sacramento … Sporting KC midfielder Paulo Nagamura and Quakes midfielder Matheus Silva are both from Sao Paulo, Brazil … SKC goalkeeper Alec Kann and SJ forward Quincy Amarikwa played together on the Chicago Fire from 2013-15 … SKC midfielder Brad Davis made 18 appearances for the Earthquakes in the 2005 season, scoring two goals … Quakes forward Chad Barrett and SKC midfielder Justin Mapp played on the Chicago Fire together from 2005-08.

Recent Success Against Sporting KC
Since 2013, the Earthquakes have amassed a 3-1-0 record against SKC, shutting them out in all three of their victories. The Quakes have outscored Sporting 7-1 in those four contests.

Home Field Advantage
San Jose currently holds a 15-4-6 record against Sporting KC at home, keeping clean sheets in 13 of the last 20 such matches.

Goals on Goals on Goals
San Jose forward Chris Wondolowski leads all active players with seven career goals against Sporting KC. Quakes forward Chad Barrett is tied for fifth with five goals.

Home Is Where the Heart Is
The Earthquakes are currently riding a nine-game unbeaten streak at home (5-0-4) and haven’t lost at Avaya Stadium since September 5, 2015. They have outscored opponents 11-5 over that timespan, while keeping four clean sheets.

Shutouts Shut Out
The Quakes have now scored at least one goal in 20 consecutive matches dating back to last season, the longest active streak in MLS.

In a League of His Own
Chris Wondolowski has scored in six of the first seven matches of the season, becoming the first Earthquakes player to ever accomplish the feat.

Chasing History
Wondolowski tallied his 115th career MLS goal, moving him past Ante Razov and into sole possession of fourth place on the league’s all-time scoring leaderboard. It also marked his 58th career road goal, moving him past Jeff Cunningham and into sole possession of second on the league’s all-time leaderboard. He needs four more to tie Landon Donovan for the most in MLS history.

Welcome to the Family
Defender Kofi Sarkodie made his debut for the Quakes on Saturday in Portland after being acquired from Houston on April 1, playing the full 90 minutes.

None or One and Done
The Earthquakes have allowed no more than one goal in nine consecutive games at Avaya Stadium.

Among the League Leaders:
Several Quakes rank among the league leaders in various statistical categories:
• Quincy Amarikwa – 19 fouls suffered, most in MLS.
• Quincy Amarikwa – 3 assists, tied for second most in MLS.
• David Bingham – 3 wins, tied for second most in MLS.
• Chris Wondolowski – 6 goals, tied for most in MLS.

MLS Goals Since 2010
Chris Wondolowski has been by far the league’s most efficient striker since 2010, leading the league in goals during that time span:

Avaya Stadium to Host MoneyGram SocioMX Cup Semifinal Match on July 2
Avaya Stadium will host a Moneygram SocioMX Cup 2016 semifinal match between Pumas UNAM and Club Santos Laguna on Saturday, July 2, promoted by Sports Marketing Monterrey. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. The winner of the match will take on either Cruz Azul or Monterrey in the final in Dallas, TX. It marks the fourth matchup of Mexican League teams at Avaya Stadium since opening its doors last year. In 2015, the venue held matches between Club Leon and Atlas FC, Chivas Guadalajara and Atlas FC, and Monarcas Morelia and Xolos Tijuana. Avaya Stadium also hosted a match between the Quakes and Club America as part of the 2015 International Champions Cup.

Earthquakes Add Premium Seating Option at Avaya Stadium
The San Jose Earthquakes will add Scoreboard Terrace Tables, a unique and exciting premium seating option, for fans looking to enjoy matches with in-seat service and close proximity to the pitch. Each Scoreboard Terrace Table, located between the field and North America’s largest outdoor bar, provides fans with a thrilling view of the action, a private group setting and catered food and beverages. Eight tables, with room for up to six guests each, will be available. Several freshly prepared food options are offered, such as pulled pork and cheeseburger sliders, southwest chicken and tri-tip wraps, and cheese and pepperoni pizza. Each option also includes a side, fruit and dessert. Earthquakes Season Ticket Holders will have an exclusive presale beginning on April 19, followed by a general public on-sale on May 2. Early bird pricing is available at $750 per table from April 19 to May 13, before prices rise to $1,000. A portion of each table’s price is dedicated to food and drinks. For more information or to reserve a Scoreboard Terrace Table, please click here.

ACADEMY UPDATEThe San Jose Earthquakes U-18 and U-16 Academy squads took on the De Anza Force on Saturday at De Anza College. The U-18s prevailed 1-0 on a goal by Diego Alonso-Rodriguez and a shutout by goalkeeper Drake Callender. John-Austin Ricks also had a standout performance in the victory. The U-16s jumped out to a 2-0 lead thanks to goals by Arda Bulut and Leo Barajas, but ultimately drew 2-2.